German tour operators see surge in bookings to Turkey

German tour operators see surge in bookings to Turkey

FRANKFURT

German bookings for holidays in the summer of 2018 in Turkey have almost doubled compared to last year’s figures, German tour operators have told state-run Anadolu Agency.

In 2018, we see Turkey’s comeback,” German Travel Association’s (DRV) spokeswoman Kerstin Heinen said, adding that bookings and sales revenues for summer 2018 have almost doubled.

A record number of 5.5 million German tourists had visited Turkey in 2015, but their numbers dropped to 3.9 million in 2016, and 3.5 million in 2017, largely due to political tensions between Ankara and Berlin, a series of terror attacks in Turkey and conflicts in countries neighboring Turkey.

Heinen stressed that this year Turkey has again become one of the most popular holiday destinations for German travelers.

But despite the impressive figures, the peak values of 2015 have not yet been reached, she noted.

Europe’s largest holiday operator TUI Group also recorded a significant increase in summer 2018 bookings to Turkey.

“Turkey has again become one of the most popular holiday destinations for German tourists and it is currently in the third place,” TUI’s spokesperson Susanne Stunckel said.

Germany’s tour operators have welcomed Turkey’s move to lift a two-year-old state of emergency, but noted that it would not make an immediate impact on the figures, as the main season is running already.

European Turkish Travel Agents Association (ATURSAB) President Güner Kızıl said the end of the state of emergency would likely have a positive impact on the numbers in the coming months.

I believe that we will welcome more tourists from Germany this year, close to the figures of 2015,” he told Anadolu Agency.

Last week, Germany’s Foreign Ministry relaxed its travel advice for Turkey, and noted that the state of emergency was lifted.